Conquest of Nine Kingdoms Field Combat and Free-Marching Guide

To win open-field combat in Conquest of Nine Kingdoms, manually control your squads on the map using free-marching commands rather than relying on automated movement. Redirecting deployed troops in real time allows you to flank occupied enemies, rotate damaged units out of danger, and funnel larger opposing forces into narrow terrain choke points.

Executing Pincer Movements and Flanking

Avoid clumping your forces into a single mass during open skirmishes. Spreading your squads forces opponents to divide their attention and makes them susceptible to flanking maneuvers.

1. Draw Enemy Focus: Send a durable infantry unit forward to engage the enemy squad first, drawing their initial attacks and locking their targeting line.
2. Execute the Flank: Once the enemy locks onto your frontline unit, use manual march commands to route high-mobility secondary squads around to the enemy's sides or rear.
3. Lock the Encirclement: Surround the enemy force from multiple angles. This pincer setup restricts their retreat options and delivers unhindered damage to their backline or flank.

Disengaging and Rotating Squads

Knowing when to disengage is critical for preserving unit health during extended field campaigns. Never let a squad remain in an unfavorable or counter-typed matchup.

• Stutter-Step Rotation: Avoid pulling a damaged squad directly backward while an enemy is pursuing them, as this leaves their rear exposed to free damage. Instead, step a fresh frontline squad forward to intercept the attacker while simultaneously issuing a retreat march to the damaged unit.
• Matchup Repositioning: If a squad is caught by a counter-typed unit, manually redirect them immediately toward defensive cover or allied reinforcement lines.

Leveraging Terrain and Choke Points

Environmental terrain acts as a natural multiplier when fighting larger player factions. Scout the surrounding map before committing to open skirmishes.

• Funnel Enemy Fleets: Lead incoming enemy armies toward narrow natural passages between geographical features like rivers and mountains.
• Negate Numerical Advantages: Holding a narrow choke point limits how many enemy squads can attack at one time, preventing larger forces from surrounding your troops.
• Position Support Roles: Station durable tank units directly in the bottleneck while keeping ranged squads immediately behind them to deal safe, continuous damage.

Structuring Squads for Mobility

Successful real-time maneuvering depends on building balanced army compositions that can respond quickly to field changes:

• High-Mobility Cavalry: Essential for rapid flanking maneuvers, chasing down retreating units, and providing emergency support.
• Durable Infantry: Required to absorb frontline engagements and buy time for maneuvering units.
• Limited Siege Engines: Avoid deploying heavy siege units in mobile field skirmishes, as their slow movement speed limits your army's ability to disengage or flank effectively.